USD women's basketball team in rebuilding mode

“She is a great distributor of the ball and a great floor leader,” Fisher said of Barlow. “She needs to get used to our system. She came from a really successful junior college program. She knows how to win. She knows how to get people the ball. She will get better every game.”

Fisher believes sophomore Sophia Ederaine, a 6-3 forward from Canyon Springs High in Moreno Valley, will be a key to their success. She has improved as a scorer and will be strong rebounding and blocking shots. She blocked a team-high 54 shots last season as a freshman. Fisher also likes what she’s seen out of true freshman Maya Hood, an athletic, 5-8 guard from La Jolla Country Day and senior Klara Wischer, who is being asked to start after being a role player last season.

“I think it’s a year that we lost a lot and it’s going to take time and we’re going to have to continuously improve every day in practice and be the best that we can be in March,” she added. “But there’s a lot to be excited about.”

University of San Diego women’s basketball

Last season: 26-9, 12-4 in the West Coast Conference, tied for second.

NIT Tournament: Won a program-best four games, lost to Oklahoma State in semifinals.

Outlook: Head coach Cindy Fisher is calling this a rebuilding year after losing three key senior starters. She will build around junior guard Amy Kame, a preseason, first-team All-WCC pick, and transfer point guard Alysse Barlow, a true passer who can score and knows how to win (66-4 in two seasons at Hutchinson CC). One key will be the play of Sophia Ederaine, a 6-3 forward from Canyon Springs High in Moreno Valley who blocked 54 shots last season. Fisher believes Ederaine will be a force as a rebounder and scorer. Seniors Klara Wischer and Julia Bennett will start, as will junior Felicia Wijenberg, a 6-2 forward. Fisher likes the look of true freshman Maya Hood, a 5-8 guard from La Jolla Country Day. Fisher has combinations of quickness and size and a deep bench that she can and will use to get the best out of her side every game. She proved last year that she could take an underrated team and get them playing their best hoops by March.